diff --git a/svgpathtools/svg2paths.py b/svgpathtools/svg2paths.py
index df519a5..cf768d2 100644
--- a/svgpathtools/svg2paths.py
+++ b/svgpathtools/svg2paths.py
@@ -27,8 +27,34 @@ def polyline2pathd(polyline_d):
     return d
 
 
+def ellipse2pathd(ellipse):
+    """converts the parameters from an ellipse or a circle to a string for a Path
+    object d-attribute"""
+
+    cx = ellipse.get('cx', None)
+    cy = ellipse.get('cy', None)
+    rx = ellipse.get('rx', None)
+    ry = ellipse.get('ry', None)
+    r = ellipse.get('r', None)
+
+    if r is not None:
+        rx = ry = float(r)
+    else:
+        rx = float(rx)
+        ry = float(ry)
+
+    cx = float(cx)
+    cy = float(cy)
+
+    d = ''
+    d += 'M' + str(cx - rx) + ',' + str(cy)
+    d += 'a' + str(rx) + ',' + str(ry) + ' 0 1,0 ' + str(2 * rx) + ',0'
+    d += 'a' + str(rx) + ',' + str(ry) + ' 0 1,0 ' + str(-2 * rx) + ',0'
+
+    return d
+
+
 def polygon2pathd(polyline_d):
-    """converts the string from a polygon points-attribute to a string for a 
     Path object d-attribute.
     Note:  For a polygon made from n points, the resulting path will be 
     composed of n lines (even if some of these lines have length zero)."""
@@ -55,11 +81,12 @@ def svg2paths(svg_file_location,
               convert_lines_to_paths=True,
               convert_polylines_to_paths=True,
               convert_polygons_to_paths=True,
-              return_svg_attributes=False):
+              return_svg_attributes=False,
+              convert_ellipses_to_paths=True):
     """
     Converts an SVG file into a list of Path objects and a list of
     dictionaries containing their attributes.  This currently supports
-    SVG Path, Line, Polyline, and Polygon elements.
+    SVG Path, Line, Polyline, Circle and Ellipse, and Polygon elements.
     :param svg_file_location: the location of the svg file
     :param convert_lines_to_paths: Set to False to disclude SVG-Line objects
     (converted to Paths)
@@ -69,6 +96,8 @@ def svg2paths(svg_file_location,
     objects (converted to Paths)
     :param return_svg_attributes: Set to True and a dictionary of
     svg-attributes will be extracted and returned
+    :param convert_ellipses_to_paths: Set to False to disclude SVG-Ellipse
+    objects (converted to Paths). Circles are treated as ellipses.
     :return: list of Path objects, list of path attribute dictionaries, and
     (optionally) a dictionary of svg-attributes
     """
@@ -108,6 +137,12 @@ def svg2paths(svg_file_location,
                        'L' + l['x2'] + ' ' + l['y2']) for l in lines]
         attribute_dictionary_list += lines
 
+    if convert_ellipses_to_paths:
+        ellipses = [dom2dict(el) for el in doc.getElementsByTagName('ellipse')]
+        ellipses += [dom2dict(el) for el in doc.getElementsByTagName('circle')]
+        d_strings += [ellipse2pathd(e) for e in ellipses]
+        attribute_dictionary_list += ellipses
+
     if return_svg_attributes:
         svg_attributes = dom2dict(doc.getElementsByTagName('svg')[0])
         doc.unlink()
diff --git a/test/circle.svg b/test/circle.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa5b6f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/circle.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" ?>
+<svg baseProfile="full" height="600px" version="1.1" viewBox="-10.05 -10.05 120.1 120.1" width="600px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:ev="http://www.w3.org/2001/xml-events" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
+  <circle cx="100" cy="100" r="50"/>
+</svg>
diff --git a/test/ellipse.svg b/test/ellipse.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..299b17b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/ellipse.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" ?>
+<svg baseProfile="full" height="600px" version="1.1" viewBox="-10.05 -10.05 120.1 120.1" width="600px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:ev="http://www.w3.org/2001/xml-events" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
+  <ellipse cx="100" cy="100" rx="50" ry="50"/>
+</svg>
diff --git a/test/test_svg2paths.py b/test/test_svg2paths.py
index 176d750..45a4b48 100644
--- a/test/test_svg2paths.py
+++ b/test/test_svg2paths.py
@@ -28,3 +28,25 @@ class TestSVG2Paths(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(path.isclosed())
         self.assertTrue(len(path)==4)
         self.assertTrue(path==path_correct)
+
+    def test_svg2paths_ellipses(self):
+
+        paths, _ = svg2paths(join(dirname(__file__), 'ellipse.svg'))
+
+        # ellipse tests
+        path_ellipse = paths[0]
+        path_ellipse_correct = Path(Arc(50+100j, 50+50j, 0.0, True, False, 150+100j),
+                                    Arc(150+100j, 50+50j, 0.0, True, False, 50+100j))
+        self.assertTrue(len(path_ellipse)==2)
+        self.assertTrue(path_ellipse==path_ellipse_correct)
+        self.assertTrue(path_ellipse.isclosed())
+
+        # circle tests
+        paths, _ = svg2paths(join(dirname(__file__), 'circle.svg'))
+
+        path_circle = paths[0]
+        path_circle_correct = Path(Arc(50+100j, 50+50j, 0.0, True, False, 150+100j),
+                                    Arc(150+100j, 50+50j, 0.0, True, False, 50+100j))
+        self.assertTrue(len(path_circle)==2)
+        self.assertTrue(path_circle==path_circle_correct)
+        self.assertTrue(path_circle.isclosed())